Rick Badie / My Opinion

By TheBlogger

September 23, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this

News Flash: DeKalb schools officials did not jail parents. Police officers did. There is a State of GA law regarding truency and the police were simply enforcing that law.

Do not blame DeKalb schools or any schools for that matter.

If you or anyone else doesn’t like the law, then work to get that law changed.

Period.

By jim d

September 23, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this

As long as mandatory education is required we will have truants.

I suggest eliminating the law and letting the kids that are disruptive and not wanting to be there, just drop out, provided they and their parents will sign a contract agreeing never to file for assistance.

By Parent

September 24, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this

And the de-enrolling process for students who don’t show up for 10 days doesn’t hurt either. Would that be considered an intervention or penalty ?

By Michael H. Smith

September 24, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this

DeKalb was probably right. No doubt before parents are jailed they have been notified or have been made aware of their child’s truancy multiple times before legal actions lead to jailing them.

This point needs to get across to everyone. No matter how much money taxpayers are forced to spend in hopes of educating children, unless the parent of the child is totally invested in the education of their of child the taxpayer money of others is being wasted to say the very least.

Spending more money does not necessarily equal more education or better education. Only an investment in the child’s education “starting first and foremost with the parent” can assure the efficacy society seeks.

Evidence: Truett Abbott, the principal of Warren County Middle School in Warren County, Georgia with the “investments made by parents” and teachers in education is a prime example of point-in-case.

If a night in jail gives a few belligerent derelict parents the needed wake-up- call to make the investment of themselves in the education of their child that is monetarily demanded of everyone else, then so be it.

By LT5000

September 24, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

The schools are empty but the jails are full. Any demographics on these deadbeat parents?

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/dekalb/stories/2008/09/17/parentarresttruancy.html

The photos say it all.

LT5000

By "Charles", The Original

September 24, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this

I regret that children have been deprived of the altruism, quality education, genuine love, and community care that many of us received in the separate and unequal schools. Altruism, quality education, genuine love, and community care, all things spiritual, were sacrificed for the ability of all people to share the same facilities etc, all things physical. You would have to be possessed, blind, cripple and crazy to think what children have today, is better than what children had in the past.

Today, children are a political football of the “demon possessed.” In fact, children have become hostages to the devil. And as long as we have perfectly possessed integrationist politicians in power who are committed to evil and influencing society, the exploitation of children will proceed almost without observation. And politicians seek to take this evil globally to boot.

Malachi Martin—Hostage to the devil

Pope Benedict XVI——-Exorcist squads wage war on Satan

By What're you an idiot

September 24, 2008 7:03 PM | Link to this

Charles - I think it might be time to switch to decaf.

By Gerald

September 25, 2008 12:49 AM | Link to this

Charles The Original:

The problem was never that schools were separate. It was that they were unequal. Had segregation existed alongside equality and opportunity, then the civil rights movement would have never gotten out of the hangar, let alone off the ground. But since segregation was merely a tool of a larger system of economic, legal, and social inequity enforced by not only government coercion but also private action, including businesses and churches, that was why segregation was opposed.

So, one could say that the flaw of the civil rights movement was attacking the “separate” part rather than the “unequal” part. Whereas attacking the “separate” part required liberalism with all of the negative consequences that it entails, a conservative - and especially libertarian - rationale could have been used to attack “unequal.”

By What're you an idiot

September 25, 2008 8:22 AM | Link to this

Gerald,

A very cogent and thoughtful posting.

Unfortunately, it was directed to some crazed shut-in who made multiple references to Beelzebub.

By RenaP

September 25, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

yes they should hold the parents responsilbe for this - and I think if they start jailing parents when their minor children are out at all hours of the night committing crimes. Lets see how well they get a grip on their kids once they are paying a price for it. I am so tired of hearing about 15, 16 or 17 year olds out all hours of the night robbing people at gun point. Let their parents spend a few nights in jail and then see how they start keeping track of their trouble making kids.

By Pompano

September 25, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this

I pity the poor teachers who are having these little darlings forcibly returned to their classrooms.

I also have a question - every year the enrollment in the school system spikes after Labor Day. How are all of those days missed on the front-end of the school year handled?

By Peadawg

September 25, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this

Yes the parents should be responsible. don’t have kids if you can’t take care of it!

By Rusty@nopi.com

September 25, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this

I saw the story on the news the other night and couldn’t help but wonder why all the “parents” were female? Where are the men? Where are the fathers? Where are the fathers!? Barack Obama is not going to come down from the mountain top and make lil’ boo go to school folks. Man up guys and handle your business!!

By Goober

September 25, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this

Gosh. Jais, I bet that felt good. My family always makes sure I take my pills so I don’t write like that. Somehow it was good for me too.

By Richard

September 25, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this

Jais,

Couldn’t agree more. Since McCain mentioned Iraq, I won’t vote for him.

Thanks for helping me come to a logical decision.

By Soulfinger

September 25, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this

So sad…

By MikeB

September 25, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this

Rick- Lets face it. The people(parents) who need to come to grips with this probably do not read the newspaper save for the headlines.

People copulate and have babies when they should not, when they are incapable (or do not want to take care of) their obligations. These are just irresponsible people breeding. They are not parents. they are something else. Sorry to say but that level of irresposibility is a disgrace.

Children being as intuitive as they are, know when there is no love in their home. They know the signs/actions of an adult who gave them life but really did not want too or really did not think about the consiquenses of his /her actions before getting some kicks.

This has an effect on the child. Downstream it should come full circle and have an affect on the adult responsible for this child too.

I hate to see government wasting time creating/enforcing laws to deal with this when there are so many other things they could be doing, but the cycle irresponsible spawning/parenting has got to stop.

This is not a “color” thing. This is a “dicipline” thing. Just because it shakes its tail in your direction it does not mean “opportunity without responsibility”.

By GAPeach

September 25, 2008 3:52 PM | Link to this

You can take a horse to water but you can’t make him drink. Making kids go to school who are unwilling participants does not give them an education, however, it does make them show some responsibility for having to get up and be somewhere at a certain time and socialize with others and in the perfect world show some respect to school authority. In this day and time … disrespect for school authority and for law enforcement has become common place amont many in our society. So many can survive without an education … why should they bother to get one. The parents of those kids who do not go to school and continually allow them to walk the streets and do nothing are generally “do nothings” anyway!!!

By BW

September 25, 2008 3:52 PM | Link to this

If a child misses so many days or drops out they should be given four choices, Army, Navy, Marines or the Air Force. They would quickly learn that without an education being the low man isn’t pretty, I’m sure they would quickly get the idea. It worked for Bill Cosby, a high school drop-out who joined the Navy, now he’s a social expert.

By GAPeach

September 25, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this

You can take a horse to water but you can’t make him drink. Making kids go to school who are unwilling participants does not give them an education, however, it does make them show some responsibility for having to get up and be somewhere at a certain time and socialize with others and in the perfect world show some respect to school authority. In this day and time … disrespect for school authority and for law enforcement has become common place among many in our society. Many can survive without an education … why should they bother to get one. The parents of those kids who do not go to school and continually allow them to walk the streets and do nothing are generally “do nothings” anyway!!!

By SaveOurRepublic

September 25, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this

Truancy is indeed a problem that needs to be proactively addressed. For younger children, attendance adherence falls onto the shoulders of the parents. However, for older schools kids, they assume responsibility (more as they age) & must also be held accountable for truancy.

The idea of jailing parents smacks of Orwell’s “1984” and a police-state. That is over the top indeed. We must limit the involvement of law enforcement (& broadening their empowerment). I would suggest implementing a system of fines or another means of holding parents accountable, but jail is NOT the answer! We must not allow rise to a police state in our Constitutional Republic where government is (supposed to be) accountable & subject to We the People!

By too late

September 25, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this

Jailing parents for their kid’s truancy is no longer an idea. It now smacks of a legislated state law!

By ron

September 25, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this

If a young person does not want to go to school then let them stay away.They are doing the rest of the students a favor.Somewhere down the road they will have to be dealt with.Real jail time awaits some of them.Cross that bridge when they come to it.Some school dropouts become decent citizens.Let them go their own way.It’s their life to live the way they want to.Spend the time,effort ,and money on kids that deserve it.Reserve all the help for the ones that are trying to succeed.Abandon the rest.They’ll either swim or they’ll sink.

By Noelle

September 26, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this

I sit in a courtroom fill of people wanting child support, these women have two or three kids with many, many different men who won’t take care of there kids and the women is standing in front of the Judge pregnant again. Children having children and they do not know how to raise these kids. They wait for the government to do it. So now they go to jail for not making sure there children are in school. Its about time something is done with these deadbeat parents who only think about themselves and what they want and not what the kids they bring into this world need. I think its only fair they go to jail for this. If you don’t like the way the law is written then you go and take these little darlings into your home. Wake up parents.

By Jais

September 26, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

Let me translate what’s going on here: DUMB BLACKS who are TOO LAZY AND STUPID TO WORK OR CONTRIBUTE are angry because they enrolled kids in the school system and then don’t want to be parents.

This is a behavior indicative of BLACKS and the fact they are worthless in this country. From Obama to sanford & son, blacks are, were and will always remain WORTHLESS.

Oh- by the way Ricky, what did I warn you about again last time? I don’t see my post…delete that one and it’s done, this blog goes down yet again. Test me, see if I’m bluffing.

By Mark

September 26, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

I agree with Jais. These problem children are called “Welfare babies”.

By Meme

September 26, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this

We don’t need no education!

By Meme

September 26, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this

We don’t need no education!

By Michael H. Smith

September 26, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this

The Pink Floyd concert has begun. All and all just another brick in the wall.

Hmmm…… We don’t need no education!

Love the double negative.

By NOWICUNVME

September 26, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

Jais—-

Go back and read what you just posted. Please go back to the doctor and advise him/her that your prescriptions are definitely NOT working! You sound like an ignorant highly unintelligble mad man. Thing about it is that you would only use such language from behind your keyboard only. I’m willing to bet you would never talk your hatred and rhetoric in the parking lot at your local Walmart because you know you would get beat down like a skunk in a garage. I’ve said this before and you really need to listen to this advice. You aren’t getting a rise out of anything but your pants. Stick to the topics at hand and post a comment based on that topic. TRY to remain focused and on task. If your ADD starts to act up again won’t you consider a lobotomy???

By Mark

September 26, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this

Uneducated blacks. Hey, who would have thunk??

By DawgGirl

September 26, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this

As a teacher, I’d like to see this law enforced more often. It is absurd to blame the schools because kids aren’t attending and then allow parents to continue not to do their job. No Child Left Behind penalizes schools if their attendance is low, but does nothing to the parents. I’m willing to bet there were far more than 9 parents who needed arresting.

By Fuelin'

September 26, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this

How about a blog called “Seen and Heard at the Gaspump?” I was just at a Shell Station in Lawrenceville—

One man parked his car in the lot and, on foot, butt in line with his 3 gallon gas can repeatedly, filling his take as he went along, rather than wait in line like everyone else. When the elderly woman in front of me refused to let him go ahead of her, he screamed at her.

There were three other incidents that almost came to blows by hot tempered jerks.

And lastly, one man berated the station owner, so she grabbed the pump out of his hand and refused to serve him. People were calling 911 as I was leaving.

All this in 15 minutes.

It’s the Wild West out here.

By Michael H. Smith

September 26, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this

Uh, I wonder how many people now consider yours truly a nut-job for screaming to the top of my keyboard for energy independence by any and every means possible at our national disposal?

Fuelin’, as the adage has it, stick around cause you ain’t seen nuttin’ yet, my friend.

If we and our blessed Congress do not get our act together to achieve energy independence within the next decade what you have seen lately at the gas pump will look like a Sunday-school picnic in comparison.

By Stone

September 26, 2008 6:18 PM | Link to this

I still think you’re a nut job Mikey, and no self congratulatory posturing on your part will change that. Screaming at the top of my keyboard? Get a life dude.

By Michael H. Smith

September 26, 2008 11:44 PM | Link to this

Likewise to you Stonie. By the way, the push for energy independence began with Nixon so there is no self congratulations due on my part, only a present need on your part to condemn me. The facts are what they are, ignored as they may be. ENERGY INDEPENDENCE MUST NOW BE A NATIONAL COMMITMENT. So get a reality, dude.

The much ado over the $700 billion now on the table in this Wall Street bailout scheme before Congress is the amount we currently “spend every year” to buy oil from foreign countries that really don’t like us. Where is the hue and cry over that huge debt that is being created? Guess spending $700 billion every year to oil rich fat cat dictators that screw the American people over really isn’t considered a crisis?

The energy infrastructure that supplies majority of our gas is located in the gulf area. Every time there is a hurricane in the gulf there is a hemorrhage in our wallets because of a supply shortage and people act crazy. So image what it will be like when foreign oil supplies begin to decline to the point oil is allocated among the developing countries of the world or those people that don’t like us very much decide to withhold their oil as they have in the past? How about no gas at the pumps for a month?

CALLING 911 WON’T DO MUCH GOOD THEN WHEN PEOPLE ABSOLUTELY NUT-UP.

STILL SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF MY KEYBOARD WHILE CONGRESS PLAYS HOOKIE ON THE ENERGY ISSUE

MAKE AMERICA ENERGY INDEPENDENT

By Harris

September 27, 2008 6:01 AM | Link to this

Screaming at the top of my keyboard? Mike Smith, that makes you sound real lame. As if we had only listened to you we would not be in the energy mess we are in. Delusional and as stone said, self congratulatory posturing. I’m all for energy independence, but not for holier than thou jerks that are full of themselves. Get off your high horse Mike.

By Michael H. Smith

September 27, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this

Very thin reasoning offered again to support a personal attack under another new name.

By Airborne

September 29, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this

To jais and his girlfriend mark.when was the last time you read a book on the education level of “hillbillies”.It seems like education has no racial barrier,if you read the history of “hillbillies.It’s not a mattter of being worthless,it’s a matter of being a human being,and speaking of being lazy why don’t you and mark get up off your lazy a— and help resolve the problem instead of complaining like old woman around the stove.Yes i do my share of wrk in the community with all races,and i don’t seem to be having a problem with trying to resolve the matter at hand.Remember it’s people like you and your girlfriend mark that took”corporal punishment,pledge of alligence to the flag,and the bible out of the school system.It was said many years ago that the system has a plan for afro-americans and lo and behold it’s in effect.If you read our history you may have a better understanding as to why things are like it is.This country always have to have someone to step on. Why not us,and you really don’t know why you’re so full of hate.When in your history can you find this country to ever have a war or conflict with Africa?I can name you at least 6 countries that you been to war with and turned around and kiss their behinds just to get along with them only to stab them in the back.You see it’s a trait you have.We did’nt bomb pearl harbor,we don’t have to remember the alamo,you get my drift?We gv our lives just as well as your ancestors gv theres.So why can’t we get the same level of education as you?What makes you think you’re above all others.Get your head out of your “4th point of contact” and face reality,we all need to take care of each other so the world can stop laughing at us,but racist people like you wl nvr see the light because in your mind racism is still alive and as usual,it’s from family upbringing,because “what is taught in the home is bought to the world”shame on you and your parents for not teaching you about the education of “all people are created equal”not just you.Be a man and be part of the solution and not the problem.Your threats to Mr.Badie is very unwarrented,he has the right to erase anything he feels is stupid,which usually comes from you and mark.See what i mean,you can’t have your way all the time,is it because an afro-american has the education and power to limit your comments?Oh well, life goes on,because a change is going to come.Talk to you later still left behind in history groupies.

By Mark

October 6, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

Airborne

So you’re a n**** lover. What’s your point?